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Balanced plant nutrition and optimal micro-climate are critical for achieving higher production sustainably. Substituting mineral fertilizers with organic amendments under water-conserving strategies like mulch can enhance the quality and yield and improve soil health. Therefore, a two-year study was conducted to examine the synergistic effects of mulch and reducing inorganic fertilizers and partially substituting organic amendments on essential oil (EO) yield and its composition, and soil properties in Salvia sclarea, an industrially important crop. Two mulching practices (M1: without mulch; M2: with mulch) and five nitrogen (N) management practices [N1: control; N2: 100% recommended dose of N i.e.,120 kg/ha; N3: 25% N through chemical fertilizer (CF) + 75% N through farm yard manure (FYM); N4: 50% N through CF + 50% N through FYM, N5: 75% N through CF + 25% N through FYM] were taken as experimental treatments, with a total of ten treatment combinations in a split-plot design during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The results showed that applying mulch increased the plant height, leaf area index (LAI), and EO yield. Among N management practices, N2 outperformed for all the morpho-physiological and yield parameters studied except stem diameter and produced at par outcomes with N5 in case of flower spike per plant, LAI, chlorophyll a and b, flower spike yield, EO content and yield. Optimum soil temperature and moisture under mulching modulate the nutrient concentration; similarly, N being necessary for photosynthesis, translocation of nutrients, enzymatic activity, and vegetative and reproductive growth, synergistically enhanced the EO yield and altered the composition. The heat map displayed an inconsistent pattern of the treatment combination's impact on EO components. In soil properties, treatment N5 recorded highest value of available N at 0–0.15 m soil depth; however, at 0.15–0.30 m, N2 registered a higher value and produced at par results with N5. In case of potassium and soil organic carbon, T3 recorded higher value, followed by T4 and T5 at 0–0.15 m. Considering the soil health and without compromising the EO yield much, the present study suggested replacing 25% of recommended chemical N with organic manures under mulch for sustainable and economical production of S. sclarea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are highly sensitive to the type of tillage practices used, as these practices influence soil properties and affect crops, the environment, and society. However, research on cassava production under different tillage systems during drought conditions in the Peruvian Amazon has not been reported. The objective of this study was to compare soil properties, cassava physiology, and yield under conservation agriculture (CA) and traditional agriculture (TA) practices, with and without mulch, in a water-scarce environment. Soil moisture, earthworm population (Ew), stomatal conductance, leaf area index, and commercial yield under CA were 5.26% (~105.2 m3 ha−1), 83%, 1.2 times, 1.14 times, and 7.3 t ha−1, respectively, higher than under TA. Hydraulic conductivity (Ks) in TA was 2.1 times higher than that in CA. However, Ks, bulk density, and Ew over time showed a gradual recovery under CA. The mulch factor only affected Ew, which was higher without mulch than with mulch. The results indicate that CA practices were superior to TA practices, improving soil properties, cassava physiology, and yield, and, therefore, offer significant benefits in resource conservation and higher production and profitability in a drought-prone environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionIn contemporary agriculture, the monoculture system of cereal crops is prevalent. Legumes are the most important plant family for crop rotation and sustainable agriculture due to their nitrogen fixing capabilities. Rainfed agricultural ecosystems are the largest food-producing biomes globally, with water scarcity and fluctuating rainfall being the most significant limiting factors for crop production. The growing demand for freshwater resources will increase the agricultural sector's vulnerability under future climate conditions, restricting production. Kermanshah province, where 78.4% of the land is arid, faces unique weather conditions and is particularly affected by drought stress. In rainfed farming systems, a suitable solution to conserve water at the farm scale is to create a suitable planting bed. The most common method of seed bed preparation among farmers is the normal flat planting method. The flat planting method, which is easy to prepare, is associated with a series of basic problems, such as reducing the efficiency of water use, reducing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use, reducing plant establishment, and the soil capping. Preparing the planting bed by changing the physical conditions of the seed bed, i.e. the thermal, humidity, ventilation and resistance characteristics of the soil, can affect the seedling emergence and the growth of the plant. By creating a ridge and furrow bed and nylon mulch, the soil moisture can be saved for different stages of plant growth. Materials and MethodsThe current research was carried out in the research Farm, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University during the cropping years of 2019 and 2020 as a factorial design based on randomized complete blocks with three replications. The treatments included nylon mulch (without nylon, nylon on the plant and nylon on the soil) and the method of planting in the bed (flat planting, planting in a 50 cm furrow, planting in a 100 cm furrow). The dimensions of each of the exfaimental plots were 2 m x 2m. In each plot, there were four rows of cultivation at a distance of half a meter, and the distance between the plants on each row was 10 cm. The distance between the exfaimental plots was one and a half meters. The traits studied included nitrogen use efficiency, leaf specific weight, leaf area index, stem dry weight, leaf dry weight, number of leaves fa plant, plant height, dry weight of broadleaf weed, dry weight of narrow leaf weed, crude protein of green seed, and leaf greenness index. After Bartlett's test, the results showed that the dry weight of broad-leaved weeds, the dry weight of narrow-leaved weeds, seed protein and leaf greenness can be analyzed as a combined analysis of variance over two years, and the rest of the traits can be analyzed separately in each year. The data were analyzed using SAS software version 9.1 and the mean of the treatments were compared with the LSD method at a probability level of 5%. Results and DiscussionAccording to the results of analysis of variance fa year, plant height, number of leaves fa plant, leaf area index, specific leaf weight and nitrogen consumption efficiency (first year) and specific weight leaf (second year) were affected by the double interaction of nylon and planting bed. The combined analysis of variance showed that broadleaf weed dry weight and leaf greenness were affected by the triple interaction effect of year, nylon and planting bed. According to the mean comparison results (first year), the highest and lowest leaf area index values were obtained in the treatment of nylon on the plant with planting in a 50 cm furrow (3.82) and treatment without nylon with planting in a 50 cm furrow (3.26), respectively. The highest and lowest efficiency of nitrogen use were related to the treatment of nylon on soil with planting in a 50 cm furrow (152 kg.kg-1) and treatment of without nylon and flat planting (81 kg.kg-1), respectively. According to the comparison of the mean of the combined analysis of variance, the highest dry weight of broadleaf weeds was obtained in the treatment of the first year, nylon on the plant and flat planting (489 kg.ha-1), and the lowest in the treatment of the first year, nylon on soil and planting in a 100 cm furrow (71 kg.ha-1). ConclusionsIn this study, the plastic cover on the soil had the highest nitrogen use efficiency and the lowest weed growth due to weed suppresion. These two factors are acceptable reasons for increasing the growth under treatment of plastic cover on the soil. In line with the report of various studies, the treatment of planting in the 50 cm furrow floor reduced the drought stress and increased the growth of the plant by affecting the available water, and this drought stress reduction was more evident in the second year due to the low amount of rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of wool as mulch in strawberry cultivation was analysed to find a solution for the rational use of wool from mountain sheep. In the plantation, the experimental plots mulched with wool, straw, and bark were appointed. The plots were monitored during the experiment, while the soil temperature and moisture content were measured. The data collected in two-hour intervals were analysed, taking into account air temperature and falls registered in the local meteorological station. Additionally, the progress of mulch biodegradation was tracked. The changes in the wool morphology that occurred by biodegradation were observed during microscopic examinations using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was stated that wool mulch plays an essential role in thermoregulation of the soil surface, prevents the overheating of the soil during the summer heat, and protects soil against excessive cooling during cold nights. The wool mulch minimizes the fluctuations between the soil's day and night temperature. The fluctuations do not exceed 2–3 degrees on hot summer days, which are five times smaller than for the control plot. The wool retains large amounts of rainwater several times its weight. The water is then slowly released, providing the growing plants with a moist environment during a longer rainless period. Moreover, wool is difficult to biodegrade and maintains its properties for a long time, lasting longer than one vegetation season. Compared to straw and bark, the temperature fluctuations recorded for wool are two times smaller, and its effectiveness in water management is considerably better. The beneficial impact of the wool mulch ensuring favourable conditions for strawberry growth was explained by the specific wool structure and its unique properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates for the first time the impact of a novel sprayable, biodegradable polyester-urethane-urea (PEUU) mulch on the microbial community composition of an agricultural soil. In this study changes to the composition of the soil microbial community and in soil enzyme activity involved in nutrient cycling were monitored on tomato plants grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. Particular attention was given to impacts on the relative changes in abundance of soil microbes. The PEUU mulch reduced the abundance of a small number of soil microbe taxa, but also provided an environment in which some taxa, which were comparatively rare in initial and unmulched soils, thrived. Importantly, the relative abundances of Azospirillum, Noviherbaspirillum, Exophiala, Phoma, Chaetomium and Clonostachys species all increased in soils treated with PEUU mulch. Principal coordinates analysis revealed the microbial community composition on PEUU films alone and in PEUU treated soil were most similar, while the PEUU films' microbial community differed the most from the initial soil's microbial community. These results indicate that from an agricultural productivity and an environmental safety standpoint the use of PEUU mulch may be preferable to PE and could provide additional plant growth benefits by increasing the abundance of soil microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Balanced plant nutrition and optimal micro-climate are critical for achieving higher production sustainably. Substituting mineral fertilizers with organic amendments under water-conserving strategies like mulch can enhance the quality and yield and improve soil health. Therefore, a two-year study was conducted to examine the synergistic effects of mulch and reducing inorganic fertilizers and partially substituting organic amendments on essential oil (EO) yield and its composition, and soil properties in Salvia sclarea, an industrially important crop. Two mulching practices (M1: without mulch; M2: with mulch) and five nitrogen (N) management practices [N1: control; N2: 100% recommended dose of N i.e.,120 kg/ha; N3: 25% N through chemical fertilizer (CF) + 75% N through farm yard manure (FYM); N4: 50% N through CF + 50% N through FYM, N5: 75% N through CF + 25% N through FYM] were taken as experimental treatments, with a total of ten treatment combinations in a split-plot design during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The results showed that applying mulch increased the plant height, leaf area index (LAI), and EO yield. Among N management practices, N2 outperformed for all the morpho-physiological and yield parameters studied except stem diameter and produced at par outcomes with N5 in case of flower spike per plant, LAI, chlorophyll a and b, flower spike yield, EO content and yield. Optimum soil temperature and moisture under mulching modulate the nutrient concentration; similarly, N being necessary for photosynthesis, translocation of nutrients, enzymatic activity, and vegetative and reproductive growth, synergistically enhanced the EO yield and altered the composition. The heat map displayed an inconsistent pattern of the treatment combination’s impact on EO components. In soil properties, treatment N5 recorded highest value of available N at 0–0.15 m soil depth; however, at 0.15–0.30 m, N2 registered a higher value and produced at par results with N5. In case of potassium and soil organic carbon, T3 recorded higher value, followed by T4 and T5 at 0–0.15 m. Considering the soil health and without compromising the EO yield much, the present study suggested replacing 25% of recommended chemical N with organic manures under mulch for sustainable and economical production of S. sclarea.

IntroductionIn contemporary agriculture, the monoculture system of cereal crops is prevalent. Legumes are the most important plant family for crop rotation and sustainable agriculture due to their nitrogen fixing capabilities. Rainfed agricultural ecosystems are the largest food-producing biomes globally, with water scarcity and fluctuating rainfall being the most significant limiting factors for crop production. The growing demand for freshwater resources will increase the agricultural sector's vulnerability under future climate conditions, restricting production. Kermanshah province, where 78.4% of the land is arid, faces unique weather conditions and is particularly affected by drought stress. In rainfed farming systems, a suitable solution to conserve water at the farm scale is to create a suitable planting bed. The most common method of seed bed preparation among farmers is the normal flat planting method. The flat planting method, which is easy to prepare, is associated with a series of basic problems, such as reducing the efficiency of water use, reducing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use, reducing plant establishment, and the soil capping. Preparing the planting bed by changing the physical conditions of the seed bed, i.e. the thermal, humidity, ventilation and resistance characteristics of the soil, can affect the seedling emergence and the growth of the plant. By creating a ridge and furrow bed and nylon mulch, the soil moisture can be saved for different stages of plant growth. Materials and MethodsThe current research was carried out in the research Farm, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University during the cropping years of 2019 and 2020 as a factorial design based on randomized complete blocks with three replications. The treatments included nylon mulch (without nylon, nylon on the plant and nylon on the soil) and the method of planting in the bed (flat planting, planting in a 50 cm furrow, planting in a 100 cm furrow). The dimensions of each of the experimental plots were 2 m x 2m. In each plot, there were four rows of cultivation at a distance of half a meter, and the distance between the plants on each row was 10 cm. The distance between the experimental plots was one and a half meters. The traits studied included nitrogen use efficiency, leaf specific weight, leaf area index, stem dry weight, leaf dry weight, number of leaves per plant, plant height, dry weight of broadleaf weed, dry weight of narrow leaf weed, crude protein of green seed, and leaf greenness index. After Bartlett's test, the results showed that the dry weight of broad-leaved weeds, the dry weight of narrow-leaved weeds, seed protein and leaf greenness can be analyzed as a combined analysis of variance over two years, and the rest of the traits can be analyzed separately in each year. The data were analyzed using SAS software version 9.1 and the mean of the treatments were compared with the LSD method at a probability level of 5%. Results and DiscussionAccording to the results of analysis of variance per year, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, specific leaf weight and nitrogen consumption efficiency (first year) and specific weight leaf (second year) were affected by the double interaction of nylon and planting bed. The combined analysis of variance showed that broadleaf weed dry weight and leaf greenness were affected by the triple interaction effect of year, nylon and planting bed. According to the mean comparison results (first year), the highest and lowest leaf area index values were obtained in the treatment of nylon on the plant with planting in a 50 cm furrow (3.82) and treatment without nylon with planting in a 50 cm furrow (3.26), respectively. The highest and lowest efficiency of nitrogen use were related to the treatment of nylon on soil with planting in a 50 cm furrow (152 kg.kg-1) and treatment of without nylon and flat planting (81 kg.kg-1), respectively. According to the comparison of the mean of the combined analysis of variance, the highest dry weight of broadleaf weeds was obtained in the treatment of the first year, nylon on the plant and flat planting (489 kg.ha-1), and the lowest in the treatment of the first year, nylon on soil and planting in a 100 cm furrow (71 kg.ha-1). ConclusionsIn this study, the plastic cover on the soil had the highest nitrogen use efficiency and the lowest weed growth due to weed suppresion. These two factors are acceptable reasons for increasing the growth under treatment of plastic cover on the soil. In line with the report of various studies, the treatment of planting in the 50 cm furrow floor reduced the drought stress and increased the growth of the plant by affecting the available water, and this drought stress reduction was more evident in the second year due to the low amount of rainfall.

Abstract A study was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, with the aim of monitoring soil loss and infiltration rate in loamy sand soil. The study focused on the effects of applying polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and mulch under simulated rainfall conditions. The experimental setup involved testing three levels of PVA (0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0%), one level of wheat-straw mulch (600 g/m2), and a Control treatment (untreated soil). Each of these treatments was replicated four times. The lowest soil loss (20.9 g/m2) was recorded under the 1.0% PVA treatment, while the highest (120.1 g/m2) was seen under the 0.5% PVA treatment. The 1.0% PVA treatment showed a significant reduction in soil loss compared to the 0.5% PVA, 0.75% PVA, mulch, and Control treatments, with reductions of approximately 82.6%, 45.1%, 81.2%, and 89.6%, respectively. Regarding infiltration rates, the Control treatment exhibited the lowest rate (2.4 cm/h), while the 1.0% PVA treatment displayed the highest rate (9.6 cm/h). Additionally, the use of mulch led to a 44.7% reduction in soil loss compared to the treatment without mulch, likely due to the mitigated impact of raindrops. The infiltration rate was significantly higher (4.8 cm/h) under the mulched treatment compared to the unmulched treatment (2.4 cm/h). Overall, the application of PVA and mulch resulted in a drastic reduction in soil loss, likely attributable to the enhanced stability of soil aggregates, improved infiltration rate, and reduced runoff.

Excessive use of plastic mulches has triggered a series of environmental problems, primarily due to the large volumes generated and their low or non-existent degradability. For this reason, materials with similar characteristics to synthetic mulches but with a biodegradable character were sought. In this work, mulch films were produced from gelatin/glycerol/cellulose (GelC) and chitosan/glycerol/cellulose (ChiC). Their biodegradation time in soil and photographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were determined. The GelC sample presented a weight loss of 80% at 25 days, compared to 58% for the ChiC sample in the same exposure time. However, the latter was the only sample that could be evaluated up to 70 days, during which it presented its greatest weight loss (97%). The SEM results for both mulch films showed some color changes after 30 days; complete fracturing, growth of mycelium on the surface, and the presence of pores were observed. FTIR spectra revealed a decrease in hydroxyl groups, amides, and carbonyl bands as the number of degradation days increased. Obtaining polymers from waste materials, such as mango, represents an important task to obtain cellulose that can both reinforce and provide biodegradable properties to biobased materials, which can be degraded by microorganisms present in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, with the aim of monitoring soil loss and infiltration rate in loamy sand soil. The study focused on the effects of applying polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and mulch under simulated rainfall conditions. The experimental setup involved testing three levels of PVA (0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0%), one level of wheat-straw mulch (600 g/m2), and a Control treatment (untreated soil). Each of these treatments was replicated four times. The lowest soil loss (20.9 g/m2) was recorded under the 1.0% PVA treatment, while the highest (120.1 g/m2) was seen under the 0.5% PVA treatment. The 1.0% PVA treatment showed a significant reduction in soil loss compared to the 0.5% PVA, 0.75% PVA, mulch, and Control treatments, with reductions of approximately 82.6%, 45.1%, 81.2%, and 89.6%, respectively. Regarding infiltration rates, the Control treatment exhibited the lowest rate (2.4 cm/h), while the 1.0% PVA treatment displayed the highest rate (9.6 cm/h). Additionally, the use of mulch led to a 44.7% reduction in soil loss compared to the treatment without mulch, likely due to the mitigated impact of raindrops. The infiltration rate was significantly higher (4.8 cm/h) under the mulched treatment compared to the unmulched treatment (2.4 cm/h). Overall, the application of PVA and mulch resulted in a drastic reduction in soil loss, likely attributable to the enhanced stability of soil aggregates, improved infiltration rate, and reduced runoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theobroma cacao (cocoa) in the Dominican Republic is one of the main export items, registering a sustained growth in the last five years. There are more than 36,000 producers in the country, indirectly benefiting more than 300 thousand people. The country has great potential for cocoa production, but due to the lack of fertilization of the plantations combined with the lack of information on the contribution of nutrients from the mineralization of biomass in the production systems, low yields are presented. The study was carried out in the Duarte province in the period from July 2016 to June 2017, with the objective of quantifying the biomass production in four agroforestry systems: cocoa in monoculture (C), cocoa plus Erythrina spp (C+ Am), cocoa plus Persea americana (C+Ag), and cocoa plus citrus (C+Ci). A multifactorial experimental design 4x15x12 was used: with four agroforestry systems, in fifteen locations and twelve sampling dates, where each farm was considered as a replicate. Four pipe and sack mesh traps were installed per farm, with an area of 1 m2. The average biomass by location and date was analyzed by analysis of variance and Duncan test (P = 0.05 %). The highest average biomass production was obtained in C + Am with 49.3 T ha-1 year-1 (41.08 % of the total). It was followed by system C with 27.02 T ha-1 year-1, C + Ag with 22.2 T ha-1 year-1 and C + Ci with 17.2 T ha-1 year-1. The annual net production was 120 T ha-1 year-1, of which 115.2 T ha-1 year-1 was attributable to the species under study, and 4.2 T ha-1 year-1 to other species. The values demonstrate a high biomass production in agroforestry systems associated with cocoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of mulching and nutrition on the growth and yield of sweet basil was examined by experimenting with four mulch treatments, viz., without mulch, black plastic, silver plastic, and organic mulch combined with four different nutrient compositions, viz., a 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), a combination of 75% RDF with humic acid, 75% RDF with microbial consortia and 75% RDF, and humic acid and microbial consortia, which served as sixteen treatment combinations with 100% RDF without mulch as a control. Among the different treatments, mulch had a significant effect on growth and yield parameters, with black plastic mulch having the maximum plant height (88.20 cm), number of branches (14.95), plant spread (5415 cm2), stem diameter (12.64 mm), fresh herbage yield (24.55 t/ha) and dry herbage yield (8.72 t/ha). Thus, the study revealed that among the various mulch treatments, black plastic mulch significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters of sweet basil, demonstrating its efficacy in promoting optimal plant development and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted during the months of January to March in the year 2023 at Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat). A field experiment was conducted to assess the performance of mulch and row covers in early watermelon cultivation with the primary aim on strategically removing row covers days after sowing. Randomized Block Design was employed with featuring of three treatments (mulching without row cover, mulching with row cover for 30 days and mulching with row cover for 45 days). Various yield and yield attribute parameters were recorded and analysed. The research findings indicated that the removal of row covers 30 days after sowing significantly influenced main vine length (2.72 m), number of nodes per main vine (36.40), number of fruits plant-1 (2.53), yield plant-1 (4.21 kg) and yield ha-1 (62.32 t ha-1). Removal of row covers 30 days after sowing exhibited higher net returns (₹ 4, 85, 419 ha-1) and higher benefit-cost ratio (4.52). Removal of row cover 45 days after sowing significantly reduced the watermelon yield. The results unveiled that mulching with a row cover aster 30 days of sowing is the optimal approach for increasing watermelon yield and net returns in early watermelon cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recruitment failures of Serianthes nelsonii are among the threats to this species' recovery, yet adaptive management research to understand the causes of seedling mortality is lacking. Insufficient available light in the in situ forest floor is one factor that may be involved, and below-plant reflection of incident light may improve seedling survival. Mirrors were placed beneath S. nelsonii, Serianthes grandiflora, and Serianthes kanehirae seedlings in container nursery conditions and S. grandiflora seedlings in a closed-canopy forest to determine the influence of the additional reflected light on seedling survival and growth. Below-plant mirrors increased nursery seedling survival for S. nelsonii and S. kanehirae, with 75% combined survival without mirrors and 88% combined survival with mirrors. Below-plant mirrors increased stem height by 51% for the three species, with greater stem diameter and ending leaf number also occurring for plants with mirrors. Below-plant mirrors increased S. grandiflora seedling survival to 161% and longevity to 236% compared to plants without mirrors under forest cover. The plants receiving mirrors also increased by 175% in height, 60% in stem diameter, and 117% in leaf number compared to the plants without mirrors. These findings indicate that passive solar engineering by exploiting below-plant light reflection may be used as a Serianthes conservation protocol to improve seedling survival and growth under shaded conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended Abstract Background: Inefficient management in the traditional cultivation of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, especially in Mazandaran province, is the main factor in reducing the quantitative and qualitative yields of the fruit, which may be due to inappropriate cultivation methods and environmental factors. To overcome these shortcomings, farmers have started to use raised bed stack cultivation systems covered with plastic mulches. Today, the development of new technologies in the production of horticultural products at the macro scale has also provided the necessary capacity for the benefit of the micro strata of society. The use of plastic mulch in the strawberry rise-bed affects the yield and quality of the strawberry fruit due to the heat and light conditions that it creates in the surrounding environment (microclimate) of the plant. Therefore, this research aimed to use the advantages of using colored plastic mulch microclimate on increasing income and rural business. Methods: The studied area is located at 36 33 N and 53 00 E, and 14 m above sea level, with an average temperature of 17.9 °C, average rainfall of 650 mm, and silty-clay soil texture. The effect of colored plastic mulch microclimates in the strawberry rise-bed on rural business and micro-economy was investigated in an experiment based on a completely randomized block design with four experimental treatments. The treatments were red, black, and white plastic mulches, with a control (without mulch), which were conducted with three replications in the entrepreneurial farm of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Iran, in the 2021-2022 growth season. The fruits were harvested for 4 days, and the fruits of each plant were carefully weighed after each harvest. The antioxidant activity, phenolic content, and flavonoid compounds were measured in the fruits. In the end, the obtained data were analyzed using ANOVA with SAS software (SAS 9.1). The Duncan post hoc test was employed to compare treatment means (Duncan = 0.05). Results: The colored plastic mulches significantly affected the quantitative and qualitative yields of strawberry fruits. Red, white, and black plastic mulches produced the highest yields (11910.17, 10441.83, and 9706.2 g, respectively) compared to the control treatment (7164.3 g). Thus, the income from the sale of fruits in red, white, and black plastic mulches increased by 65.8, 57.7, and 16.9%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, the number of fruits harvested from the first, second, and third groups was assigned to the treatments with plastic mulch. The income from the sale of the fruits in the first and second groups in red mulch increased by 181 and 87%, respectively, compared to the control treatment. In addition, the income from the sale of fruits in the third group in the white mulch treatment increased by 86% compared to the control, and black (75%) and red (65%) mulches were ranked next. In the fourth group, the income from the sale of fruits in red, black, and white mulches decreased by 63, 22, and 25%, respectively, compared to the control. These findings showed more favorable marketability of the product in colored plastic mulches. In addition, the number of fruits harvested from the first, second, and third groups, which showed more favorable marketability of the product, was assigned to treatments with plastic mulches. According to the results, the highest (71.8 mg/100 g) and the lowest (58.5 mg/100 g) fruit anthocyanin contents were measured in the red mulch and control treatments, respectively. The highest phenol content belonged to red, black, and white mulches (60.2, 61.1, and 60.9 mg.GA/g, respectively), which were not significantly different from each other. However, these treatments were noticeably superior to the control treatment (47.9 mg.GA/g). Red and black mulch treatments contained the highest flavonoid contents (12.5 and 12.8 mg.Qu/g, respectively), followed by white mulch (10.2 m.Qu/g) and the control treatment (6.9 m.Qu/g). Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that the use of plastic mulches in the strawberry rise-bed significantly increases the quantitative and qualitative yields of the fruits, early maturity of the fruit, favorable marketability, and lack of fruit contact with the soil surface compared to control treatment (without mulch). Therefore, the income from the sale of fruits at all stages of harvesting showed the superiority of colored plastic mulches compared to the control. Meanwhile, the number of fruits in the first and second groups was higher in the red plastic mulch treatment, indicating early ripening and better marketability of the fruit, and as a result, higher income than the other treatments. Therefore, using plastic mulches can be considered a useful tool for increasing rural income, business prosperity, and micro-economy.

IntroductionBean is one of the most important legumes worldwide for direct human consumption and it is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates. Bean is weak in competing with weeds due to its slow growth during the early stages. Therefore, competition with weeds causes a significant reduction in grain yield at the end of the growing season. Weeds and crops are always competing for obtaining nutrients, water, light and space. Weed competition is a kind of nonliving stress, which effect on plant yield. The photosynthetic capacity of plants depends on abiotic factors such as the quality and quantity of light. Each of the photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids absorb light at a different wave length. The rate of photosynthesis and biomass production in plants is also largely dependent on the chlorophyll content of leaves. The weed interference in the plant growth maybe caused a change in the content of carotenoids and chlorophyll pigments in plant leaves. Pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, with different morphological and genetic characteristics, show different responses in the presence of weeds, which may ultimately result in possible difference in yield. Measurement of growth indices is necessary to study the competitive ability of species during the growth period. Materials and MethodsIn order to investigate the effect of different chemical and non-chemical weed control managements on the yield of determinate and indeterminate bean varieties, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. This field experiment was carried out in Behshahr, Mazandaran, in 2021. The first factor was different weed control methods: application of trifluralin herbicide as pre-sowing 2.5 liters per hectare; application of trifluralin herbicide 2.5 liters per hectare + one weeding; wheat mulch in the amount of two tons per hectare; application of bentazon 50% of the recommended dose; application of bentazon 75% of the recommended dose; application of bentazon 100% of the recommended dose; weed-free control and control with weed infestation and the second factor includes bean cultivars: Negin variety (determinate growth type) and Sadri variety (indeterminate growth type). Weeds were sampled at flowering and final harvesting stages, and weed species, density, and dry weight of weeds were measured. Also, photosynthetic pigments and yield were investigated. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that weed species in the field were from 9 plant families and included 10 species. From the total species observed in the field, 4 species have C4 photosynthetic pathway, 4 species have C3 photosynthetic pathway and one species has CAM photosynthetic pathway. The Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Portulaca oleracea L. species had the highest frequency and Chrozophora tinctoria and Physalis alkekengi had the lowest frequency in the field. In all three stages (21 days after planting, flowering and final harvesting stages), the highest density and dry weight of weeds were observed in the control treatment without weeding, and among the weed management treatments, mulch and bentazon 100% treatments caused a decrement in the density and dry weight of weeds in both Negin and Sadri cultivars. Based on the results, the highest chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll were observed in both Negin and Sadri cultivars in the weed-free control treatment, and the lowest values were in the control treatment without weeding. Also, the control treatment without weeding had the highest amount of carotenoids in Negin cultivar (0.41 mg.g-1 fresh weight) and in Sadri cultivar (0.37 mg.g-1 fresh weight), while the lowest ones in Negin and Sadri cultivar (0.29 and 0.28 mg.g-1 fresh weight, respectively) was observed in the weed-free control treatment. The highest seed yield of Negin and Sadri cultivar (1957.11 and 2426.01 kg.ha-1, respectively) were observed in the weed-free control treatment. ConclusionsIn general, it can be concluded that the Sadri cultivar with higher competitive ability has performed better against the weed than the Negin cultivar. Among the weed management treatments, the non-chemical management of mulch and the chemical treatment of bentazon 100% had better performance.

Melon (Cucumis melo) is considered a valuable agricultural crop in terms of nutrition and economy. However, viral diseases pose a serious threat to melon production. This study investigates the importance of using defense activator to reduce the impact of viruses on melon yield and quality. Elicitors and polyethylene mulch were used as defense activator to increase plant tolerance to viruses. Agricultural plots in the Abravan region of Mashhad were prepared, and treatments included the use of mulch and elicitors at different stages of melon plant growth. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic plants, and RNA was extracted from the leaf tissues. Duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (dRT-PCR) was used to simultaneously identify Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV). The percentage of viral symptoms in the plants across the treatment groups was analyzed. The results showed the presence of CABYV and CYSDV in different treatments. Treatment with elicitors and polyethylene mulch significantly reduced the severity of mosaic and yellowing symptoms in melon plants at the seedling and 2-4 leaf stages. Additionally, this treatment increased crop yield per hectare and prevented infection by CABYV and CYSDV. The findings suggest that the combination of elicitors and polyethylene mulch can be an effective strategy to reduce viral symptoms and increase crop yield in melon cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionBean is one of the most important legumes worldwide for direct human consumption and it is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates. Bean is weak in competing with weeds due to its slow growth during the early stages. Therefore, competition with weeds causes a significant reduction in grain yield at the end of the growing season. Weeds and crops are always competing for obtaining nutrients, water, light and space. Weed competition is a kind of nonliving stress, which effect on plant yield. The photosynthetic capacity of plants depends on abiotic factors such as the quality and quantity of light. Each of the photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids absorb light at a different wave lenth. The rate of photosynthesis and biomass production in plants is also largely dependent on the chlorophyll content of leaves. The weed interference in the plant growth maybe caused a change in the content of carotenoids and chlorophyll pigments in plant leaves. Pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, with different morphological and genetic characteristics, show different responses in the presence of weeds, which may ultimately result in possible difference in yield. Measurement of growth indices is necessary to study the competitive ability of species during the growth faiod. Materials and MethodsIn order to investigate the effect of different chemical and non-chemical weed control managements on the yield of determinate and indeterminate bean varieties, an exfaiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. This field exfaiment was carried out in Behshahr, Mazandaran, in 2021. The first factor was different weed control methods: application of trifluralin herbicide as pre-sowing 2.5 liters fa hectare; application of trifluralin herbicide 2.5 liters fa hectare + one weeding; wheat mulch in the amount of two tons fa hectare; application of bentazon 50% of the recommended dose; application of bentazon 75% of the recommended dose; application of bentazon 100% of the recommended dose; weed-free control and control with weed infestation and the second factor includes bean cultivars: Negin variety (determinate growth type) and Sadri variety (indeterminate growth type). Weeds were sampled at flowering and final harvesting stages, and weed species, density, and dry weight of weeds were measured. Also, photosynthetic pigments and yield were investigated.  Results and DiscussionThe results showed that weed species in the field were from 9 plant families and included 10 species. From the total species observed in the field, 4 species have C4 photosynthetic pathway, 4 species have C3 photosynthetic pathway and one species has CAM photosynthetic pathway. The Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Portulaca oleracea L. species had the highest frequency and Chrozophora tinctoria and Physalis alkekeni had the lowest frequency in the field. In all three stages (21 days after planting, flowering and final harvesting stages), the highest density and dry weight of weeds were observed in the control treatment without weeding, and among the weed management treatments, mulch and bentazon 100% treatments caused a decrement in the density and dry weight of weeds in both Negin and Sadri cultivars. Based on the results, the highest chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll were observed in both Negin and Sadri cultivars in the weed-free control treatment, and the lowest values were in the control treatment without weeding. Also, the control treatment without weeding had the highest amount of carotenoids in Negin cultivar (0.41 mg.g-1 fresh weight) and in Sadri cultivar (0.37 mg.g-1 fresh weight), while the lowest ones in Negin and Sadri cultivar (0.29 and 0.28 mg.g-1 fresh weight, respectively) was observed in the weed-free control treatment. The highest seed yield of Negin and Sadri cultivar (1957.11 and 2426.01 kg.ha-1, respectively) were observed in the weed-free control treatment. ConclusionsIn general, it can be concluded that the Sadri cultivar with higher competitive ability has faformed better against the weed than the Negin cultivar. Among the weed management treatments, the non-chemical management of mulch and the chemical treatment of bentazon 100% had better faformance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of various mulch types on weed management, soil moisture conservation, and crop performance in Gladiolus hybridus cv. Punjab Glance at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The experiment tested different coloured polythene mulches--black (25µ), silver on black (25µ), transparent (25µ), and white (50µ)--as well as paddy straw mulch at the rate of 10, 15, and 20 tonnes/ha, and pendimethalin (0.5 kg/ha). Results demonstrated that transparent and white polythene mulches promoted earlier sprouting, bud initiation, and flowering. Black polythene mulch yielded the tallest plants (90.30 cm) and longest spikes (75.31 cm), while white polythene (50µ) mulch produced the most florets per spike (12.39) and extended the flowering duration (15.60 days). Hand-weeding achieved the highest weed control efÏciency (100%), closely followed by black polythene mulch (99.87%). Paddy straw mulch (1 t/ha) was the most effective for soil moisture conservation, with polythene mulches also performing well. Transparent (25µ) and white (50µ) polythene mulches recorded the highest average soil temperatures during the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El mulch consiste en cubrir la capa superficial del suelo con residuos vegetales u orgánicos, previniendo las pérdidas de humedad, reduciendo las malezas y aumento la actividad microbiológica. Los Microorganismos eficientes actúan desdoblando la materia orgánica para almacenar carbono, en conjunto con el biocarbón reteniendo los nutrientes mejorando la capacidad biológica del mismo. La elevada presencia de sales perjudica y degrada la estructura del terreno, disminuyendo la permeabilidad del agua, presento problemas severos en el sistema radicular y follaje de la planta. En este caso, el objetivo de la investigación es evaluar los efectos de mulch y microorganismos eficientes, en el manejo de la salinidad en cultivo de banano. Se realizaron tres tratamientos: T1 (mulch, 10g de biocarbón, 10g de silicio); T2 (mulch, 10g biocarbón, 10g silicio, 10g de microorganismos, 35g enraizante); T3 (mulch, 10g biocarbón, 10g silicio, 10g de microorganismos, 35g enraizante, 70ml de regulador fisiológico). El T2 y T3 bajaron significativamente la conductividad eléctrica del suelo, mejorando la disponibilidad de nutrientes y porcentajes de raíces funcionales en el cultivo de banano, lo que presenta un impacto positivo en el crecimiento y desarrollo de las plantas. Estos resultados resaltan la importancia de considerar estas prácticas agrícolas para optimizar la producción de banano.

Soils are highly sensitive to the type of tillage practices used, as these practices influence soil properties and affect crops, the environment, and society. However, research on cassava production under different tillage systems during drought conditions in the Peruvian Amazon has not been reported. The objective of this study was to compare soil properties, cassava physiology, and yield under conservation agriculture (CA) and traditional agriculture (TA) practices, with and without mulch, in a water-scarce environment. Soil moisture, earthworm population (Ew), stomatal conductance, leaf area index, and commercial yield under CA were 5.26% (~105.2 m3 ha−1), 83%, 1.2 times, 1.14 times, and 7.3 t ha−1, respectively, higher than under TA. Hydraulic conductivity (Ks) in TA was 2.1 times higher than that in CA. However, Ks, bulk density, and Ew over time showed a gradual recovery under CA. The mulch factor only affected Ew, which was higher without mulch than with mulch. The results indicate that CA practices were superior to TA practices, improving soil properties, cassava physiology, and yield, and, therefore, offer significant benefits in resource conservation and higher production and profitability in a drought-prone environment.

The application of wool as mulch in strawberry cultivation was analysed to find a solution for the rational use of wool from mountain sheep. In the plantation, the experimental plots mulched with wool, straw, and bark were appointed. The plots were monitored during the experiment, while the soil temperature and moisture content were measured. The data collected in two-hour intervals were analysed, taking into account air temperature and falls registered in the local meteorological station. Additionally, the progress of mulch biodegradation was tracked. The changes in the wool morphology that occurred by biodegradation were observed during microscopic examinations using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was stated that wool mulch plays an essential role in thermoregulation of the soil surface, prevents the overheating of the soil during the summer heat, and protects soil against excessive cooling during cold nights. The wool mulch minimizes the fluctuations between the soil’s day and night temperature. The fluctuations do not exceed 2–3 degrees on hot summer days, which are five times smaller than for the control plot. The wool retains large amounts of rainwater several times its weight. The water is then slowly released, providing the growing plants with a moist environment during a longer rainless period. Moreover, wool is difficult to biodegrade and maintains its properties for a long time, lasting longer than one vegetation season. Compared to straw and bark, the temperature fluctuations recorded for wool are two times smaller, and its effectiveness in water management is considerably better. The beneficial impact of the wool mulch ensuring favourable conditions for strawberry growth was explained by the specific wool structure and its unique properties.

The paper investigates for the first time the impact of a novel sprayable, biodegradable polyester-urethane-urea (PEUU) mulch on the microbial community composition of an agricultural soil. In this study changes to the composition of the soil microbial community and in soil enzyme activity involved in nutrient cycling were monitored on tomato plants grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. Particular attention was given to impacts on the relative changes in abundance of soil microbes. The PEUU mulch reduced the abundance of a small number of soil microbe taxa, but also provided an environment in which some taxa, which were comparatively rare in initial and unmulched soils, thrived. Importantly, the relative abundances of Azospirillum, Noviherbaspirillum, Exophiala, Phoma, Chaetomium and Clonostachys species all increased in soils treated with PEUU mulch. Principal coordinates analysis revealed the microbial community composition on PEUU films alone and in PEUU treated soil were most similar, while the PEUU films’ microbial community differed the most from the initial soil’s microbial community. These results indicate that from an agricultural productivity and an environmental safety standpoint the use of PEUU mulch may be preferable to PE and could provide additional plant growth benefits by increasing the abundance of soil microbes.

Dryland agriculture requires the efficient utilization of water resources and the implementation of water-conserving technologies. Mulching is a water conservation practice used in arid land areas to preserve soil moisture, control temperature, and minimize soil evaporation rates. Organic mulching minimizes soil deterioration, enhances organic matter, and boosts the soil's ability to retain water. Mulching can help keep moisture in the root zone, allowing plants to receive water for extended periods. Mulching with composted yard waste led to higher soil nutrient levels, including phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and organic matter when compared to uncovered soil. Under plastic mulch, soluble nutrients such as nitrate (NO3 -), ammonium (NH4 +), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and fulvic acid are released as organic matter decomposes, enhancing the soil's nutrient availability. Mulching has several advantages for dryland agriculture, such as reducing soil water loss, soil erosion, weed growth, water droplet kinetic energy, and competition for nutrients and water with nearby fields. This review article aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of ground mulching in water conservation. This is particularly important in arid regions where agricultural sustainability is at risk due to drought, heat stress, and the inefficient use of limited water resources during the cropping season. Ground mulching is essential for minimizing surface evaporation and hence decreasing water loss. This review research thoroughly examines the advantages of organic and synthetic mulches in crop production, as well as their use in the preservation of soil and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family and small-scale farming systems are increasingly important in achieving food sovereignty and sustainability. This makes necessary to characterize them and develop systems to evaluate their sustainability, which allow the monitoring of the management of various resources with a participatory approach. In this work, the application of the MESMIS methodological framework is presented for the design of a system of indicators related to the management of soil resources in the Organoponic Garden of the farm El Guayabal, which respond to the premises of simplicity, sensitivity and easy application. The methodological scheme used in the construction of the system of indicators and the results obtained in its evaluation are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive use of plastic mulches has triggered a series of environmental problems, primarily due to the large volumes generated and their low or non-existent degradability. For this reason, materials with similar characteristics to synthetic mulches but with a biodegradable character were sought. In this work, mulch films were produced from gelatin/glycerol/cellulose (GelC) and chitosan/glycerol/cellulose (ChiC). Their biodegradation time in soil and photographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were determined. The GelC sample presented a weight loss of 80% at 25 days, compared to 58% for the ChiC sample in the same exposure time. However, the latter was the only sample that could be evaluated up to 70 days, during which it presented its greatest weight loss (97%). The SEM results for both mulch films showed some color changes after 30 days; complete fracturing, growth of mycelium on the surface, and the presence of pores were observed. FTIR spectra revealed a decrease in hydroxyl groups, amides, and carbonyl bands as the number of degradation days increased. Obtaining polymers from waste materials, such as mango, represents an important task to obtain cellulose that can both reinforce and provide biodegradable properties to biobased materials, which can be degraded by microorganisms present in the soil.

Recruitment failures of Serianthes nelsonii are among the threats to this species’ recovery, yet adaptive management research to understand the causes of seedling mortality is lacking. Insufficient available light in the in situ forest floor is one factor that may be involved, and below-plant reflection of incident light may improve seedling survival. Mirrors were placed beneath S. nelsonii, Serianthes grandiflora, and Serianthes kanehirae seedlings in container nursery conditions and S. grandiflora seedlings in a closed-canopy forest to determine the influence of the additional reflected light on seedling survival and growth. Below-plant mirrors increased nursery seedling survival for S. nelsonii and S. kanehirae, with 75% combined survival without mirrors and 88% combined survival with mirrors. Below-plant mirrors increased stem height by 51% for the three species, with greater stem diameter and ending leaf number also occurring for plants with mirrors. Below-plant mirrors increased S. grandiflora seedling survival to 161% and longevity to 236% compared to plants without mirrors under forest cover. The plants receiving mirrors also increased by 175% in height, 60% in stem diameter, and 117% in leaf number compared to the plants without mirrors. These findings indicate that passive solar engineering by exploiting below-plant light reflection may be used as a Serianthes conservation protocol to improve seedling survival and growth under shaded conditions.

As one of the most widely cultivated vegetable crops worldwide, chillies (Capsicum annuum L.) face serious pest-related problems when grown in either open or protected cultivation systems. However, studies aimed at understanding the implementation of various integrated pest management (IPM) techniques on chilli production in both cultivation systems are scarce. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing an integrated approach that combines the use of a sweet corn barrier, thiamethoxam, control threshold, silver plastic mulch, pest traps, and fungicides on chilli pests and diseases in open and protected farming systems. Those techniques were applied simultaneously to overcome major chilli pests and diseases that commonly co-occur in the field. The experiment conducted in West Java, Indonesia from May to November 2021 revealed that control techniques could maintain chilli pest population below their control threshold and prevented disease outbreak in both cultivation systems. The average yields of chilli cultivated in the netting house were higher than those cultivated in the open field, i.e. 20.92 t/ha and 9.77 t/ha, respectively. Furthermore, the profitability of chilli cultivation using IPM technologies has been demonstrated in both open and protected fields, with the profit generated in the protected system being 3.9 times higher than that of the open field.

Kale, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, is an important urban crop for human health and may potentially be grown year-round even in a temperate climate. We investigated black plastic and straw mulch compared to bare soil cover in low tunnels at 10 urban garden sites and in low tunnels within a high tunnel in the USA to ascertain the influence on yield and nutrients of Red Russian kale, soil temperature, air temperature, weed pressure, and aphid abundance. Kale had low yield in garden sites, likely because the outside environment was too cold for low tunnels to gain and retain heat. Cultivating kale in a high tunnel resulted in good yields, especially when paired with a low tunnel and plastic or straw mulch, which resulted in the highest air and soil temperatures. The amount of minerals in plants within the high tunnel largely did not vary across combinations of low tunnels and ground covers, except for copper and sulfur, which were lowest in plots with no low tunnel or ground cover. Also, dietary fiber was higher when no low tunnel or ground cover was used compared to plots with a low tunnel and no ground cover. Weeds were suppressed by straw and black plastic mulch, but none of the ground covers influenced aphid abundance. Overall, our work demonstrates that Red Russian kale can be grown in a temperate climate during winter with some combinations of tunnels and ground covers.

The effect of mulching and nutrition on the growth and yield of sweet basil was examined by experimenting with four mulch treatments, viz., without mulch, black plastic, silver plastic, and organic mulch combined with four different nutrient compositions, viz., a 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), a combination of 75% RDF with humic acid, 75% RDF with microbial consortia and 75% RDF, and humic acid and microbial consortia, which served as sixteen treatment combinations with 100% RDF without mulch as a control. Among the different treatments, mulch had a significant effect on growth and yield parameters, with black plastic mulch having the maximum plant height (88.20 cm), number of branches (14.95), plant spread (5415 cm2), stem diameter (12.64 mm), fresh herbage yield (24.55 t/ha) and dry herbage yield (8.72 t/ha). Thus, the study revealed that among the various mulch treatments, black plastic mulch significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters of sweet basil, demonstrating its efficacy in promoting optimal plant development and productivity.

Dryland agriculture requires the efficient utilization of water resources and the implementation of water-conserving technologies. Mulching is a water conservation practice used in arid land areas to preserve soil moisture, control temperature, and minimize soil evaporation rates. Organic mulching minimizes soil deterioration, enhances organic matter, and boosts the soil’s ability to retain water. Mulching can help keep moisture in the root zone, allowing plants to receive water for extended periods. Mulching with composted yard waste led to higher soil nutrient levels, including phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and organic matter when compared to uncovered soil. Under plastic mulch, soluble nutrients such as nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and fulvic acid are released as organic matter decomposes, enhancing the soil’s nutrient availability. Mulching has several advantages for dryland agriculture, such as reducing soil water loss, soil erosion, weed growth, water droplet kinetic energy, and competition for nutrients and water with nearby fields. This review article aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of ground mulching in water conservation. This is particularly important in arid regions where agricultural sustainability is at risk due to drought, heat stress, and the inefficient use of limited water resources during the cropping season. Ground mulching is essential for minimizing surface evaporation and hence decreasing water loss. This review research thoroughly examines the advantages of organic and synthetic mulches in crop production, as well as their use in the preservation of soil and water resources.

Straw is an important by-product of crop production. It has been widely used as a feed as well as in fruit–vegetable production due to exerting a positive impact on soil and crop health and quality in the operated areas. On the other hand, applied crop-specific herbicides throughout the production stage, like aminopyralid (AP), may lead to significant plant injuries in sensitive vegetable plantations, even in very low concentrations. This study aims to optimize a short time, minimal consumables needed, and sensitive extraction and analytical method for AP residues in straw material using LC-MS/MS. For this purpose, standard AP signal response in acetonitrile (MeCN) and 1% of formic acid (FA) in methanol (MeOH) were tested; several chromatographic separation and mass spectroscopy (MS) parameters were improved and optimized. Subsequently, two different extraction methods were performed in AP spiked straw samples, and extraction efficacies were compared. Salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE) by acidified MeCN combined with final dissolution in MeOH with 1% of FA prior to the analysis was chosen as the most appropriate method for the straw matrix. This method was then used for validation and real sample test analysis. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of AP in this optimized extraction method achieved 10 ng/g straw with a recovery rate of 71% and 13% RSD. The method was also tested on field straw mulch samples and 22.54 ± 0.8 ng/g of AP was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kale, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, is an important urban crop for human health and may potentially be grown yearround even in a temperate climate. We investigated black plastic and straw mulch compared to bare soil cover in low tunnels at 10 urban garden sites and in low tunnels within a high tunnel in the USA to ascertain the influence on yield and nutrients of Red Russian kale, soil temperature, air temperature, weed pressure, and aphid abundance. Kale had low yield in garden sites, likely because the outside environment was too cold for low tunnels to gain and retain heat. Cultivating kale in a high tunnel resulted in good yields, especially when paired with a low tunnel and plastic or straw mulch, which resulted in the highest air and soil temperatures. The amount of minerals in plants within the high tunnel largely did not vary across combinations of low tunnels and ground covers, except for copper and sulfur, which were lowest in plots with no low tunnel or ground cover. Also, dietary fiber was higher when no low tunnel or ground cover was used compared to plots with a low tunnel and no ground cover. Weeds were suppressed by straw and black plastic mulch, but none of the ground covers influenced aphid abundance. Overall, our work demonstrates that Red Russian kale can be grown in a temperate climate during winter with some combinations of tunnels and ground covers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different types of mulch are often used in agricultural production to enhance soil moisture and improve crop yields. The question of which mulch provides superior water retention in arid regions, where water resources are scarce, is a major concern for agricultural production. We conducted observations and studies at a typical irrigated experimental station in an arid zone with four types of mulch, including liquid mulch (LM), biodegradable mulch (BM), ordinary black mulch (OBM), and ordinary white mulch (OWM), and plots with no mulch. Samples were collected and analyzed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after each rainfall or irrigation to obtain soil moisture changes and to analyze the effect of different mulches on soil moisture retention. The results showed that mulch cover was effective in retaining soil moisture compared to plots without mulch cover. Specifically, soil moisture was highest in the farmland with OWM during the observation period. OWM, OBM, and BM were all effective in reducing soil water evaporation and maintaining soil moisture. LM and BM were capable of utilizing rainfall to recharge soil water in a superior way, and polyethylene mulches (OBM and OWM) had a significant barrier impact on rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020 - 2021, on the territory of the experimental field „Chelopechene“ of IPAZR „N. Pushkarov“ an experimental trial was conducted with an intensive apple plantation of the Florina variety, created in 2017. The soils in the study area are leached cinnamon forest. In terms of rainfall, both years are very dry with a guarantee of 95.67% (2020) and 94.07% (2021). For 2020, on average, during the vegetation period of the apple plantation in the infant period, to maintain the soil moisture in the range of 70% of FC to 100% of FC, it was necessary to submit 10 watering rates with an irrigation rate of 380 mm, and for 2021. 12 watering cans with an irrigation rate of 510 mm. Water savings when using mulch averages 30-35%. For 2020 (second year) in the version with mulch, the yield is 517 kgda-1 and in the version without mulch, the yield is 266 kgda-1. In 2021 (third year), the apple orchard had a yield of 1 383 kgda-1 in the version with mulch, and 858 kgda-1 in the version without mulch. Data show that mulching has a positive effect on yield by an average of 51-62%. Main objective: Establishing the optimal irrigation regime in drip irrigation and its influence on the yield of an intensive apple orchard in its infancy under drip irrigation and mulching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inefficient management in the traditional cultivation of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, especially in Mazandaran province, is the main factor in reducing the quantitative and qualitative yields of the fruit, which may be due to inappropriate cultivation methods and environmental factors. To overcome these shortcomings, farmers have started to use raised bed stack cultivation systems covered with plastic mulches. Today, the development of new technologies in the production of horticultural products at the macro scale has also provided the necessary capacity for the benefit of the micro strata of society. The use of plastic mulch in the strawberry rise-bed affects the yield and quality of the strawberry fruit due to the heat and light conditions that it creates in the surrounding environment (microclimate) of the plant. Therefore, this research aimed to use the advantages of using colored plastic mulch microclimate on increasing income and rural business. Methods: The studied area is located at 36 33 N and 53 00 E, and 14 m above sea level, with an average temperature of 17.9 °C, average rainfall of 650 mm, and silty-clay soil texture. The effect of colored plastic mulch microclimates in the strawberry rise-bed on rural business and microeconomy was investigated in an experiment based on a completely randomized block design with four experimental treatments. The treatments were red, black, and white plastic mulches, with a control (without mulch), which were conducted with three replications in the entrepreneurial farm of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Iran, in the 2021-2022 growth season. The fruits were harvested for 4 days, and the fruits of each plant were carefully weighed after each harvest. The antioxidant activity, phenolic content, and flavonoid compounds were measured in the fruits. In the end, the obtained data were analyzed using ANOVA with SAS software (SAS 9.1). The Duncan post hoc test was employed to compare treatment means (Duncan = 0.05). Results: The colored plastic mulches significantly affected the quantitative and qualitative yields of strawberry fruits. Red, white, and black plastic mulches produced the highest yields (11910.17, 10441.83, and 9706.2 g, respectively) compared to the control treatment (7164.3 g). Thus, the income from the sale of fruits in red, white, and black plastic mulches increased by 65.8, 57.7, and 16.9%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, the number of fruits harvested from the first, second, and third groups was assigned to the treatments with plastic mulch. The income from the sale of the fruits in the first and second groups in red mulch increased by 181 and 87%, respectively, compared to the control treatment. In addition, the income from the sale of fruits in the third group in the white mulch treatment increased by 86% compared to the control, and black (75%) and red (65%) mulches were ranked next. In the fourth group, the income from the sale of fruits in red, black, and white mulches decreased by 63, 22, and 25%, respectively, compared to the control. These findings showed more favorable marketability of the product in colored plastic mulches. In addition, the number of fruits harvested from the first, second, and third groups, which showed more favorable marketability of the product, was assigned to treatments with plastic mulches. According to the results, the highest (71.8 mg/100 g) and the lowest (58.5 mg/100 g) fruit anthocyanin contents were measured in the red mulch and control treatments, respectively. The highest phenol content belonged to red, black, and white mulches (60.2, 61.1, and 60.9 mg.GA/g, respectively), which were not significantly different from each other. However, these treatments were noticeably superior to the control treatment (47.9 mg.GA/g). Red and black mulch treatments contained the highest flavonoid contents (12.5 and 12.8 mg.Qu/g, respectively), followed by white mulch (10.2 m.Qu/g) and the control treatment (6.9 m.Qu/g). Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that the use of plastic mulches in the strawberry rise-bed significantly increases the quantitative and qualitative yields of the fruits, early maturity of the fruit, favorable marketability, and lack of fruit contact with the soil surface compared to control treatment (without mulch). Therefore, the income from the sale of fruits at all stages of harvesting showed the superiority of colored plastic mulches compared to the control. Meanwhile, the number of fruits in the first and second groups was higher in the red plastic mulch treatment, indicating early ripening and better marketability of the fruit, and as a result, higher income than the other treatments. Therefore, using plastic mulches can be considered a useful tool for increasing rural income, business prosperity, and micro-economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nowadays, legal regulations and social environmental concerns are converging towards the promotion of more sustainable agriculture based on organic compounds and soil preservation. These trends are fuelling the growth of the biofertilizers, which are beneficial preparations containing microorganisms able to enhance a plant's ability to uptake essential nutrients. Their production and commercialization encompass a multitude of critical steps deeply reviewed in this manuscript through an exhaustive overview of the key stages, such as microorganism selection, new environmental sources, upscaling to field trials, encapsulation, current application systems and regulatory considerations. However, although the economical expectations are promising, several methodological, environmental, and legal concerns are undermining their advancement. The redefinition of international legal frameworks, their enhancement based on trending technologies, and the fostering of multidisciplinary collaboration across sectors are key players to promote biofertilizers as eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to analysis the effect of various types of organic fertilizer and mulch types on growth and production of tomato plants. Research was conducted at Liliriaja District, Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi on January-June 2023. This research used a factorial 2 factor experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) as the environmental design. The first factor is organic fertilizer with 3 types: chicken compost 15 tons ha-1, cow manure 15 tons ha-1, and goat manure 15 tons ha-1. The second factor is mulch with 3 types: without mulch, 10 tons ha-1 rice husk mulch, and plastic mulch. The results showed that there was an interaction between chicken compost fertilizer and rice husk mulch at the number of fruit / plot (260.00 fruits), fruit weight / plot (8.00 kg) and production (26.67 tons ha-1). Chicken compost in 15 ton ha-1 gave the highest number of fruit / plant (18.93 fruits) and fruit weight/plant (727.00 g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bidara Laut (Strychnos lucida R.Br.) has the potential as a medicinal plant in West Nusa Tenggara, but its cultivation encountered many challenges. Mount Tunak, Natural Tourism Park, had similar environmental conditions to the natural habitat of Strychnos lucida and was selected as the location for planting trials. Given the dry climate, high temperature, and soil fertility limitations, the trials applied soil amendments, such as hydrogel, mycorrhizae, mulch, and fertilizer, to enhance the growth. This research aimed to investigate the effects of soil amendments on the survival rate of Strychnos lucida. This research used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments and one control. The treatments included applying five grams of hydrogel, five grams of mycorrhizae, 1 m x 1 m of plastic mulch, and a combination of all three. The research used 15 replication blocks, each with an area of 450 m2 and a spacing of 3 m x 3 m. Each block included ten replication plants (in total 750 plants), and the trial lasted 19 months. The results showed an insignificant growth increase after 19 months of planting in all treatments. There were improvements in survival rate, height growth, and diameter growth by 25%, 85%, and 25%, respectively.

Agroecosystem management at microhabitat, habitat, and landscape scales shapes natural enemy communities, with critical implications for ecosystem services. Yet few studies examine the impacts of small to large scale habitat management features on predator communities, abundance of predator species, or removal of prey items from urban agroecosystems. In this study, we used observations and a sentinel prey removal experiment to examine the impact of substrate (prey placed on the ground vs. on kale plants), microhabitat (prey placed under vegetation, on bare soil in open areas, or on mulch in open areas), local garden management features, and landscape features on predator species composition and removal of two prey species in urban gardens in the California central coast. We found that both microhabitat characteristics and substrate type shaped prey removal rates within urban gardens, and microhabitat, but not substrate, impacted predator species composition. In addition, both garden management (floral abundance, herbaceous plant richness, and tree and shrub abundance) and landscape features (urban land cover within 2 km) influenced prey removal and predator composition. Nearly all prey removal of eggs was accomplished by ants; larvae predators were more diverse and included ants, birds, lizards, wasps, and spiders. Although predator composition was mediated by many habitat features, prey removal was greater under vegetation, from the ground, when floral abundance in gardens was high, and in gardens with fewer trees and shrubs. Considering how these different management features affect predator foraging behavior and interactions will be a promising next step in this field.

Weed management in container plant production is a serious problem and remains one of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of the industry. Weeds cause severe reductions in crop growth due to the limited growing environment characteristic of container plant production. The container nursery industry relies heavily on a limited number of preemergence herbicide options. The use of herbicides as the primary means to manage weeds has resulted in some negative consequences such as high chemical costs, leaching, runoff, and concerns with recycling irrigation water. Additionally, nursery growers are shifting their focus toward different nonchemical weed management strategies because many ornamental plants are very sensitive to preemergence herbicides. One such method is using organic mulch to control weeds in container plant production. Mulching is the foundation of a nonchemical weed management protocol and acts as the first line of defense against weeds. Organic mulches used in container plant production include rice hulls, pine bark, wood chips, wood shavings, coconut coir, nut (peanut, pecan) shells, oyster shells, cacao bean hulls, pelletized newspaper, recycled newspaper, pine straw, and other materials; material selection often depends on the availability of the product. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive review of existing research on the utilization of various mulch materials as a weed management tool in container plant production. Additionally, it aims to highlight any critical knowledge gaps and provide suggestions for possible future research.

Sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (Fab.) is the main obstacle for sweet potato production in various countries. Root damage caused by C. formicarius larvae reduced root yield up to 100%. The aim of this study is to test the measures using mulch and entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana for controlling C. formicarius in endemic land of entisol type. The control measure tested was the use of straw mulch and plastic mulch as well as the application of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The research was conducted at the experimental station at Indonesian Legumes and Tuber Crops Research Institute, Malang from July to December 2018. The results showed that the measure for controlling C. formicarius using straw or plastic mulch combined with the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana produces root yields between 17 and 26 t/ha. Using plastic mulch as a cover for mounds with the application of the fungus B. bassiana is more effective and efficient in controlling C. formicarius than the insecticide deltamethrin. Plastic mulch can physically inhibit the process of laying eggs and the formation of C. formicarius larvae, while B. bassiana is toxic to eggs, larvae, and adults of C. formicarius. The efficacy of control measure using plastic mulch and the application of B. bassiana can reduce yield losses by up to 96.76%. Technological innovation using plastic mulch to cover the mound with the application of the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana can be recommended to control C. formicarius on land endemic to the entisol type.

Expanding agricultural land by using sloping dry land can be detrimental to the environment due to soil erosion and degradation. However, cover crops can be one of the technologies applied to reduce these risks. Arachis pintoi is one of cover crops that can be used as bio mulch on agricultural land. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of A. pintoi bio mulch on soil nutrient contents and maize plant growth at different slopes. A nested randomized block design was used in the study. Two levels of land used as the main factor and the type of mulch consisting of five levels (without mulch with weeding, without mulch without weeding, silver-black plastic mulch, straw mulch, and A. pintoi bio mulch) were used as the second factor. The results showed that A. pintoi bio mulch significantly increased the P content of the soil and could potentially increase several other macronutrients, especially C-organic, N, and Ca. The use of A. pintoi bio mulch with a cover technique that was left to cover the entire soil surface suppressed the growth and yield of maize plants compared to the control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural plastic mulching is an important horticultural process for increasing crop yields because it preserves soil moisture, soil temperature, and nutrients, and avoids the need for weed herbicides. However, there are risks to using plastic mulch, since residual macroplastic (MaP), microplastic (MP), and nanoplastic (NP) in fields have a significant negative impact on the environment, causing damage to soil properties, harming microorganisms in the soil, and entering the human body via the food chain. Plastic mulch is often disposed of in landfills or used in techniques like the thermal process to gain energy or recycling to generate plastic granules for the plastic industry. Pretreatments are occasionally required before recycling, such as cleaning the mulch from the soil to fit the recycling process. This review provides an overview of the quantities and negative impacts of plastic, especially plastic mulch films after use, as well as their decomposition products, on the environment, soil, and human health, and presents alternatives. The possibilities and problems of collecting and recycling films are discussed in addition to the alternatives, for example, the use of biodegradable films. Overall, agricultural advancements to reduce plastic waste in the environment by using thicker films, collection after use, and recycling in developed countries are on a good path. However, NP poses a risk, as it is still completely unclear how it affects human health. Alternatives to plastic mulch have found little acceptance so far due to the significantly higher material costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El mulch es una práctica muy antigua que se ha utilizado para mejorar la calidad del suelo y los cultivos. Los diferentes colores de mulch ofrecen ventajas en el desarrollo de cultivos y aumento del rendimiento de las plantas a diferencia que las cultivadas sin mulch. Por lo antes mencionado el objetivo de la presente investigación fue, evaluar el rendimiento del cultivo de pepino (Cucumis sativus L.) bajo condiciones de mulch plástico en Ecuador. Se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar, con cinco tratamientos: testigo (T0), rojo (T1), azul (T2), negro (T3) y verde (T4) con tres repeticiones, se usó la prueba estadística Duncan con nivel de significancia (p

Abstract Burning sugarcane, Saccharum spp., fields to remove leaves before harvest is a routine practice in many sugarcane production areas, including the United States. The method is environmentally deleterious and has been discontinued in some parts of the world. Alternatively, excised preharvest leaf residue, or greenchop, is used as mulch. This field study examined the effects of greenchop, applied in several ways to sugarcane soil, on soil fertility, selected sugarcane plant physiochemicals, injury inflicted by the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), and sugarcane yield parameters, compared to plots augmented by soil-incorporated compost and a nontreated control. The compost amended soil had elevated concentrations of many nutrients, and in sugarcane leaves, heightened concentrations of certain sugars and free amino acids. None of the greenchop treatments affected soil and sugarcane leaf nutrients. During the first year of the study, E. loftini injury to sugarcane stalks during the first season, however, was generally greater in the greenchop and compost treatments than in the control. In the second growing season, the compost treatment was the only treatment associated with heightened E. loftini infestations. Relationships between soils augmented with organic amendments and E. loftini injury to sugarcane are discussed in terms of mediation through physiochemical changes induced by the amendments.

Zonal management of cereal–legume cover crop mixtures may help address weed and nitrogen management challenges common in organic reduced tillage systems. During a field study conducted over 3 years in Michigan, we evaluated the effects of cover crop management, tillage, and supplemental mulch on organically produced acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo). During the fall season before squash production, rye (Secale cereale L.) and vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop mixtures were sown in two distinct spatial arrangements: a “mixed planting,” in which seeds were sown in the same rows, and a “zonal planting,” in which vetch was planted only in the in-row zone and rye was planted only in the between-row zone of the subsequent squash crop. During the following spring season, cover crops were mowed, and four tillage and cover crop management combinations were established: full-width tillage with the mixed planting of rye–vetch (full-till mixed); strip-till with the same mixed planting (strip-till mixed); strip-till with the rye–vetch zonal planting (strip-till zonal); and strip-till with the zonal planting and additional rye mulch added between crop rows immediately after crop establishment (strip-till zonal plus rye). The strip-till mixed treatment resulted in yields equivalent to those of the full-till mixed treatment despite lower available nitrogen and greater early weed competition in some cases. Within strip-till treatments, zonal planting of rye–vetch provided no benefits relative to full-width planting (treatment 2 vs 3) and resulted in lower total cover crop biomass, a higher density of escaped weeds, and lower squash yields during 1 of 3 years. Supplemental rye mulch improved weed suppression and yields in strip-till zonal treatments and resulted in yields equivalent to those of the full-till mixed treatment in all years, but it provided no benefits relative to strip-till mixed. Our results demonstrate that strip-till organic squash production can produce yields equivalent to full-till production in Northern climates, but that zonal planting and supplemental mulch have limited benefits for addressing ongoing weed and nitrogen management challenges. Growers must weigh costs associated with these challenges against potential benefits for soil and pest regulating ecosystem services before adopting these agricultural conservation practices.